Gardenia plant named &#39;BAB1183&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Gardenia jasminoides  called ‘BAB1183’ is shown and described. The plant is produces large, double flowers and is cold hardy.

GENUS AND SPECIES NAME

The present invention relates to a new and distinct gardenia variety of Gardenia jasminoides.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

This new and distinct Gardenia variety is identified as ‘BAB1183’.

BACKGROUND

Gardenia plants are native to various tropical and subtropical regions around the planet. Because of their tropical and subtropical origins, Gardenia plants tend to thrive in warm humid environments such as USDA Zones 8 or 9. Gardenia plants are not typically recommended for zones colder than zone 7. Others have attempted to develop more cold hardy Gardenia plants. Gardenia jasminoides ‘Frostproof’ is one such example. ‘August Beauty’ is another example of a commercially available Gardenia with some cold hardiness. The ‘BAB1183’ is distinguishable from known Gardenia by, at least, its large flowers. The ‘BAB1183’ may also be distinguishable for any of the reasons below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new and distinct Gardenia variety is identified as ‘BAB1183’, and has a compact, semi-dwarf habit with very large, double, fragrant flowers and large, evergreen foliage. The ‘BAB1183’ is hardy in USDA Zones 6-10; exhibits extreme hardiness to 0° F. or colder; and is extremely drought tolerant and pest resistant. The ‘BAB1183’ is also strong and fast growing, reaching a mature height of 4 to 5 feet in approximately 15 years.

The ‘BAB1183’ is distinguished from all other varieties of Gardenia known to the inventor by at least one of its cold hardiness; large bloom; compact, semi-dwarf habit; and glossy leaves. The ‘BAB1183’ may also be distinguishable for other reasons as well.

Applicant plans to market the ‘BAB1183’ as the Summer Snow Gardenia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The file of this patent contains at least one photograph executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings(s) will be provided by the office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the above-ground biomass of the novel variety of Gardenia identified as ‘BAB1183’.

FIG. 2 is a close-up photograph of a flower of the ‘BAB1183’ plant.

FIG. 3 is a close-up photograph of leaves from the ‘BAB1183’ plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Origin: In approximately 1993, the Inventor obtained vegetative cuttings from what the inventor believes to be a hybrid plant of unknown parentage in Dania, Fla. Cuttings were grown and plants were selected for sturdiness for approximately 14 seasons in USDA Zone 7 (Guilford Co., N.C.). Plants exhibiting high levels of sturdiness in USDA Zone 7 were selected for growth in USDA Zone 6. After selection following approximately 2 growing seasons in USDA Zone 6, the inventor discovered the unique characteristics of the ‘BAB1183’.

Asexual Reproduction: The ‘BAB1183’ has been asexually reproduced using vegetative cuttings by the inventor in Guilford County, N.C. The ‘BAB1183’ has also been asexually reproduced, for the inventor, through micropropagation. Asexual production of the ‘BAB1183’, by the inventor, has shown that the unique features of this Gardenia are stable and the plant reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

A detailed description of the Gardenia jasminoides ‘BAB1183’ follows. All measurements were taken from a representative two year old plant grown outdoors in Guilford Co., N.C. (USDA Zone 7). The Inflorescence description is based on a flower opened for approximately 2 days in the month of June. Colors are based on The Royal Horticultural Colour Chart. When dimensions, sizes, colors, etc. are given, it should be understood that such characteristics are approximations set forth as accurately as possible. Variations may occur under other growth conditions based on, for example, climatic factors, fertilization, pruning, pest control, etc.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Gardenia jasminoides ‘BAB1183’.         -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 6-10, with extreme hardiness to 0° F.         -   Size.—122 cm high, 122-152 cm wide.         -   Habit.—Young plants are upright/open becoming upright/dense             with age.         -   Form.—Rounded.         -   Branching.—Dichotomous, branching freely from vegetative and             reproductive buns in second year.         -   Flowering response.—Terminal flowers appear at branch tips.         -   Flowering season.—The majority of the blooms are from June             to July, with periodic, isolated blooming Spring through the             Fall.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branched, fine roots. -   Immature leaf-lower:     -   -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.         -   Surface pubescence.—None present, Glabrous.         -   Surface color.—Yellow-Green 146C. -   Immature leaf-upper:     -   -   Surface texture.—High-glossy.         -   Surface pubescence.—None present, Glabrous.         -   Surface color.—Yellow-Green 144A. -   Leaf-mature:     -   -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Base.—Acuminate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminiate.         -   Size.—Length 10.2 cm, width 4.4 cm.         -   Arrangement.—Opposite and whorled.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture/substance.—Smooth, extremely glossy.         -   Mature leaf color.—Lower, Green 146B; upper, Green 137A and             Green 139A.         -   Midvein pattern.—Pinate.         -   Midvein color.—Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length 1.9 cm, diameter 0.3 cm, shape rounded-top             slightly flattened.         -   Petioles color.—Yellow-Green 144A. -   Stems:     -   -   Internode length.—5.2 cm.         -   Pith.—Solid.         -   Young stem color.—Start Yellow-Green 144A, turns             Yellow-Green 146B turns Grey-Brown N199B.         -   Young stem diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Young stem pubescence type.—Scabrous, color Yellow-Green             144A. -   Vegetative buds:     -   -   Scale number.—Three.         -   Number at node.—Two or three at leaf node.         -   Size.—3 mm long at longest point. 1 mm wide at widest point.         -   Position/disposition.—Flat relative to stem.         -   Type.—Valvate. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Floral size.—Corolla length, 5 cm. Corolla width, 9.5             cm-11.4 cm.         -   Floral color.—Petal upper and lower surfaces, White 155C.             Fading bloom color for petal upper and lower surfaces, White             155a.         -   Floral type.—Double.         -   Petal size.—Length, 3.8 cm. Width, 2.5 cm.         -   Petal shape.—Apex rounded, base fused, margin entire,             texture matte.         -   Petal pubescence type.—Glabrous.         -   Bloom duration.—7 days per bloom (approx.).         -   Sepal size.—Length, 2.5 cm. Width, 0.2 cm.         -   Sepal shape.—Folded over, apex acute, base fused, margin             entire.         -   Sepal texture.—Matte to semi-glossy.         -   Flower bud pedicel.—Length, 1.3 cm-1.9 cm.         -   Flower bud pedicel pubescence type.—Glabrous.         -   Flower bud pedicel color.—Yellow-green 144A.         -   Stamen.—Number, 5. Length, 1.3 cm. Anther color,             Greyed-Yellow 161C.         -   Pollen color.—Greyed-Yellow 161C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Gardenia jasminoides plant, substantially as herein described and illustrated. 